Closings

Severe Weather

Corporate software helps police recover stolen laptop

Published On: Oct 08 2013 08:08:03 PM EDT

MANCHESTER, N.H. -

Police in Manchester said they were able to use security technology to recover a laptop computer stolen from a home.

The laptop was a company computer being used by an employee of Mark Carrier Construction, police said. The day after it was stolen, the company called Paradigm Computer Consulting of Nashua, which had set up special software that allows the company to access the laptop once it's turned on.

Three weeks later, engineers at Paradigm got word that the laptop had been fired up.

"And luckily the guy just kept turning it on and turning it on, and finally, we were able to get enough information where we could give it to the police and say, 'Hey, here's what we've got. What can we do to get this thing back and help these people out?'" said David Martin of Paradigm.

Martin said he was able to use the corporate management software to access the laptop.

"We captured his wireless networks and the networks around him," Martin said. "We could get pictures from the webcam on the machine, and then as well, the desktop screen capture."

Martin said the software allowed engineers to see the social media networks and email the man was using.

Police tracked down and recovered the laptop, but no arrests have been made.

For those who worry that anyone could access their computers like Paradigm did, engineers said it's possible, but unlikely for most.

"They can track the device if it is stolen, but it doesn't have the level of control that we have with these corporate management tools," said Paradigm CEO Shawn Walsh.

Police said their investigation is ongoing, and they are working to recover other items stolen from the home.

Copyright 2013 by WCVB.comAll rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Comments

The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.

The Obama administration will unveil a major climate change plan Monday aimed at a large reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's coal-burning power plants, a senior administration official told CNN.